Conveyer for changing groups of articles into single file



s. B. MGT? Lm' CONVEYER FCR CHANGING GROUPS OF ,ARTICLES NTO SINGLE FILE 4, Sheets-Sheet l mii F'ledSept. 25. 1931 Aug. 9, 1932.

f s. B; MoTT 1,870,375

CONVEYER FOR CHANGING GROUPS 0F ARTICLES INTO SINGLE FILE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1951 INVENTOR.

nafg, M0771 m BY C EYS..

Aug. 9, 1932. s. B. MOTT 1,870,375

CONVEYER FOR CHANGING (/ITROURS OF ARTICLES INTO SINGLE FILE mhd spt. 25, 1951 4 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR. LQ N 9m/f4 Marr.

ATTO y EY.;

S. -B. MOTT Aug., 9, 1932.

CONVEYER'FOR CHANGING GROUPS OF ARTICLES INTO SINGLE FILE 4. TT. n Nr M Ww m. m 4 l, m l 3 9 l m 2 L D.. e S d .e l .l F

ATTOR EYJ Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT FFIC SAMUEL B. MOTT, 0F NOBLESVILLE, INDIANA', ASSIGNOR To INDIANA CONDENSED MILK COMPANY, OF INDIANArOLis, INnIANA, A CORPORATION UONVEYER FOR CHANGING GROUPS OF ARTICLES INTO SINGLE FILE Application led September 25, 1931.

This invention relates to a portion of a system for conveying cans and like articles, particularly one whichrequires the cans to be conveyed to and from sterilizing apparatus. For such purposes, it is desirable that cans comingupright in single le be mechanically izlled into metal baskets with open tops and with the cans in sidewise position, and the can-iilled baskets then conveyed to and from sterilizing apparatus and thereafter the cans be discharged Jfrom the basket on their This ypresent invention takes the cans after they have been discharged from the sterilizing baskets in a plurality of vertical ricks or rows and mechanically brings them again into single lile on their sides adapted to roll down a narrow chute tothe place where they are inspected', labeled and packed for shipment.`

One feature of the invention consists in the combination with a conveyer of a plurality of rows of cansand the like, and a single file conveyer, of means intermediate said two conveversf which receives the cans from the plurality of rows and guide and converge them so that' they will, without interference with each other,` enterA the single tile conveyer and rolllin single tile.`

TwoA means are shown for converging the plur'aliftyot rows of cans into a single lile, one for large cans and the other "for small cansgand these two means arefassociated with the conveying apparatus so that either one may readily-be used,A according to the size of the cans being hand-led at the time. In both oi these forms, there are trackways for convergingthe cans into single iile by reason of said trackways being' variable in length. In the fermA for the large cans, there is a straight central. trackwaly that is short, and lateral trackways of varying lengths greater than thezcentral guideway but bent so as to register atV the discharge ends and successively discharge into the single file conve-yer. In the other form for smallcans, there are twistcd*A guide-ways extending downwardly and' discharging successively into an inclined sin- `glefile`v cnnafeyer. Iny both of these forms, since the cans are rollingon their. sides, there vround articles that will roll.

Serial No. 565,076.

will be no blocking or confusion in the movement of the cans one after the other into the single chute, and such movement is very rapid.

Another feature of the invention consists in forming one section of the conveyer as a positively driven elevating conveyer which Vdischarges on a descending conveyer through which the articles move by gravity to the converging mechanism and single tile conveyer. Y

Another Jfeature of the invention consists in means for readily altering the apparatus adapted to handle `diiierent sizes of cans. ln that connection, the trackways of the elevating conveyer toward the discharge endare spread apart so as to adapt the same to be discharged on the descending conveyer, the construction of the trackways of which requires the descending conveyer to be made relatively wide.

Another feature of the invention consists in combination with the conveyer in which the cans are descending in a. plurality of vertical ricks beside each other, of a conveyer having a plurality of driven chains in alignment with each vertical rick of cans and havingv lugs on the links of said chains so that the cans will be received separately in proper order, and conveyed in single rows.

Vhile the invention has been used for handling cans, its use is not limited to cans as it may be used for handling jars or other Also, the invention is not limited to any particular :torni of conveyer, whether it be a driven or a gravity conveyer. Nor are some features of the invention limited to the particular construction shown herein to illustrate the invention, as some features may be used without the tion oi"- the first part of the apparatus construction of elevating. conveyer here shown.-

- in Fig. 1 withsonie omissions. Fig. 3 is a side elevationof a succeeding portion of the apparatus constituting this invention, parts at each end being broken away and showing the` apparatus adjusted for handling small cans. Fig. 4 is the saine as Fig. 3 with the parts adjusted for handling large cans. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lower section of the descending conveyer shown in Fig. 3. Fig.

6 is a planview of the upper section of saidL conveyer shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectionL on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a view partly in section of the downward conveyer shownV y in the left hand of Fig. 3.

As appears in Figs. 1 and 2, cans andlike articles 10 roll down the chute or conveyer l1 in a plurality of vertical ricks side by side. The cans have come from a steriliziiig basket (not shown) in which they were filled in superimposed layers and which basket was dumped in the right hand end (not shown) of the conveyer or chute 11 in F ig. 1. In the vapparatus in which this invention has been used, the cans roll down the chute 11 by gravity, but it is immaterial whether they travel by gravity in a conveyer or chute 11, or by a power-driven conveyer.

From the end of the chute or conveyer 11,

ythe cans 'of each vertical rick roll upon a driven elevating chain 12, as shown in Fig.

1. 4In Fig. 2, there are tive of these elevating chains shown vbeside each other, and each chain travels in acliannel iioii 13, as shown in Fig. 8, and said channel irons are supported by straps 14 ifroni the frame side angle bars 15, as seen in Figs. 1 and 7. Said angle bars 15, at their lower ends, are secured on upriglits 16 and, at their upper ends, to .uprights 17. Chains 12 are driven by sprockets 18 on shaft 19, shown at the upper end of Fig. 1. Shaft 19 is mounted in bearings 2() secured to the underside of the angle irons 15, as seen in Fig. 7 At the other end, the sprocket 'chains are mounted on sprockets 21 on shaft 22 in bearings 23 secured to the underside ot said frame bars 15. The links of said chains 12 carry lugs 24 that project upwardlyrfrom the upper side of the chains and project behind each can 10 whereby the chains are enabled to receive and elevate the cans individually, as seen in Fig. 1. Side boards 115 are secured to said elevating conveyer.

The driving shaft 19 of said elevating conveyer is driven by a sprocket wheel 25 as seen in Fig. 3 at the right hand end, and the same is driven by sprocket chain 26 leading from ythe small sprocket 27 on shaft 23 mounted i in bearings 29 secured to uprights 17, and the shaft 28 is driven by sprockets 30 and 31 and chain 33 from a motor 32. The power drives the elevating chains 12 in the direction indicated by the arrows for the purpose heretofore specified.Y

From the upper end ofl the elevating conveyer 12 shown in Fig. 1, the cans descend by gravity down the chutes 34 to the descending conveyer 35, as seen in Figs. 3 and 5.` The cans are still on their sides so that they can roll and they` pass down the descendink conveyer in the sainenumber of rows an order as in the elevating conveyer.

The descending conveyer 35, inthe forni shown in Fig. 5, Ahas'five,parallel` chutes vor trackways 36 for 'tive 'rows of cans.' The trackways are secured at theirupper ends on a crossplate 37, seen in Figs. 3r and 4 which forms the series oftrackways 36 in a unit. At their lower ends, said trackways are secured to a cross plate 38 that is pivoted at its ends on pivot pins 39 in the frame 40, whereby the series of trackways can betilted to theV position shown in Fig. 4 orthat shown in Fig. 3. At the upper end of the'descendingconveyer there are side boards 41 and at the lower part thereof there are top guard boards 42 secured at each end by straps 43 to the sides of the descending conveyer 35. The top bars 42 are to prevent the lcans from escaping while rolling down -the trackways.

The upper ends of said descending conveyer is supported by a vertically adjustable chain hooked in the stirrup 51 which embraces the upper conveyer and at itslower end is connected by links'52lto arms 53'extending up from the outside of the trackways 36 of the descending conveyer, as seen in Figs. 3 and 5. By this means, said lower desee-riding conveyer 35 is held in working position, as shown in Fig. 1, orin idle-position, as shown in Fig. 4.

From the descending conveyer 35, with its plurality of trackways 36, as seenin Fig. 3,

the cans roll into a downwardly-descending tion 55, 'there are downwardly-descending converging twisted guidebars 57, asseen in.

Fig. 9. yThe function of these twisted guide bars is to turn the cans horizontally 90 de- *i grees so that they will roll down into .the inclined chute 54 which extends at substantially a right angle'from the previous descending conveyer 35. Said chute 54 is narrow, kas seen in Fig. 5, and, therefore, in itall thecans roll down in single tile and ypass from the apparatus constituting this invention to a position Where they can be inspected, labeled and packed for.. shipment (not shown).

This apparatus yis provided vfor handling cans and the like of a plurality of sizes. What has heretofore'bee'n described and as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5,'is used for handling relatively smally cans. If larger'vcans fsa are also employed, they are elevated by the elevating conveyer l2 as shown in Fig. l, as the lugs 24 are far enough apart to receive either the largeI or the small cans. But after leaving the elevating conveyer l2, the large cans travel down the upper descending conveyer 60, shown in Figs. l, 4 and 6. rlhe conveyer 60 is let down, from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, by the chain so as to enable the receiving end of conveyer to receivethe cans as they come down chute 84 from the rear end of the elevating conveyer l2. rlhe frame 60 of the descending conveyer is hingedly supported on pivots 66 at the upper end of the frame upright G27 by suspension bars 68, as seen in Fig. 4.

The descending conveyer 60 is illustrated in Figs. 4 and G. It has high sides 6l so as to make a relatively deep trough-like conveyer wide enough, however, to receive cans only in single file as shown in Fig. 6. Above said single file can conveyer 60 there are a plurality of single can trackways 63, 64 and 65 of varying lengths, as seen in Fig. 6. These three trackways receive the cans from three sections or chutes 34 and of the elevating conveyer l2 and discharge them into the descending conveyer 60 at diderent successive positions, as shown. Thus the short track 63 discharges its cans into said chute 6() ahead of track 64 and the latter discharges its cans ahead of track 65, so that all the cans are discharged into said single file chute 60 in "f succession without interfering, and pass or roll down the chute by gravity into the position for inspection, labeling and packing for shipment.

As shown in Fig. 2, the chains in the elevating conveyer l2 gradually diverge as they approach the discharge end or elevated portion of the said elevating conveyer, so the rows of cans will be appreciably separated or spaced apart and will pass between the partitions YO, shown in Figs. l and 4, and thereby be guided correctly to the tracks of the downwardly-descending conveyer 60. Because of the angle-iron tracks, the descending conveyer must be wider than the small end of the elevating conveyer 12.

rl`he partition plates are preferably made of two sheets of metal, as shown in Fig. 5, with a spacer 7l between the discharging ends thereof. rl`he other ends cf said partition plates are hinged on the transverse rod 72 which is carried on a pair of uprights 73 secured to the sides of the upper parts of the eleva-ting conveyer l2. rllhe pivotal mounting of partition plates 70 enables them to rise orbe pushed out of the by any can that becomes displaced while travelling upward on the elevating conveyer l2. This will enable a misplaced can to pass on without choking the machinery or stopping operation of the apparatus. Y

operator picks up the frame for the small cans, consisting of the partition plates 70 and rods 72, shown in Fig. 5, and replaces it with the correspondingY frame assembly of partition plates 70 and rods 75 for large cans as shown in Fig. 8. Hence the change from large cans to small cans, or the reverse, is simply and quickly done. When such change is made, the receiving end of the descending conveyer must be changed, as heretofore explained from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, or the reverse. No other part needs to be changed for operating on cans of dierent sizes.

lt is thus seen that apparatus constituting this invention, one is enabled to readily change from a plurality conveyer into a single file conveyer, whereby cans and the like, which come to this apparatus in a plurality of vertical ricks, will leave the same in a single file chute, so that the cans can be readily inspected, labeled an-d packed for shipping by one group of operators and at one location, and the cans pass such group of operators in rolling position with their circumferential surfaces exposed. eration herein explained enables cans of various sizes to be handled for the purposes above stated and the apparatus will not become clogged, if any can becomes misplaced while travelling up the elevating conveyer. The operation of the machine is extremely rapid, as the cans pass like a rapidly flowing stream of wat-er, and yet the cans will not interfere with each other or become clogged in the apparatus at any time during their passage.

The invention claimed is 1 l. Conveying apparatus for changing groups of cans and like articles into single file, which includes a conveyer forgroups of said articles, a downwardly-inclined single file conveyer extending at a. right angle thereto, and an intermedia-te section connecting said conveyers which has trackways for the articles twisted at substantially ninety degrees so as to horizontally turn the articles correspondingly before entering the single file conveyer.

2. Conveying apparatus for changing groups of cans and like articles into single file, including a conveyer having a plurality of parallely trackways, a transversely-arranged inclined single flle conveyer below the discharge. end of said first-mentioned conwith the conveying y Also, the opveyer, and an intermediate section with the .upper end adapted to receive the cans from 3. Conveyer apparatus for changing groups of cans and like articles into single le, including a descending conveyer having a single file conveyer, and separate substantially parallel trackways for conveyingthe f groups of cans and discharging Vthem into 'like articles in a plurality of vertical ricks,

a conveyer provided with a plurality of parallel trackways each vof which is adapted to receive the cans of a rick, said plurality of trackways being gradually spread to space .them a art at the discharge end a single iile i P D 7 C conveyer, and an intermediate section between the discharge end of said first-named conveyer and thel single iile conveyer with one end thereof adapted to receive the cans from the spread trackways and the other end of said intermediate section having a piu rality of substantially vertical guideways, one registering with each trackway in the preceding conveyer and discharging in said single le conveyer so as to deliver the cans as they come from the plurality of trackways to sa id single file conveyer.

5.r Conveyer apparatus for changing groups of cans, and like articles into single le, including means for supplying cans and like articles in a plurality of vertical ricks, a conveyer provided with a plurality of parallel trackways each of which is adapted to receive the cans of a rick, said plurality of trackways being gradually spread to space them apart at the discharge end, a single file conveyer, and a conveyer between the discharge end of said iirst-named conveyer and the single file conveyer with one end thereof having trackways spread at the receiving end so as to receive the cans from the spread trackways of said first-named conveyer, said last-mentioned trackways varying in length. and successively discharging into said single tile conveyer,

'6. Conveyer apparatus for changing f groupsof cans .and like articles into single file, including means for supplying cans in a plurality of rovfsbeside each other, two descending conveyers each with trackways for receiving individually the rows of cansv Vfrom the supply means, one of said descending conveyers beingy over the other and both conveyers pivoted at their discharge ends,

and vertically adjustable means for holding the receiving ends of said descendingconveyers in position for either of them to register with the can-supplying means as desired. y

7. Conveyer apparatus for changing groups of cans and like articles into single file, in#

the discharge ends of the two descending conveyors are pivoted, and vertically adjustable means for holding the receiving ends of said descending conveyors in position for either of them to register with the can-supplying means.

8. Conveyer apparatus for changing groups of cans and like articles into single file, including an elevating conveyer, a plurality of descending conveyers each having a plurality of trackways for the different rows of cans, means for supporting said descending conveyers so as to bring into registry with the elevating conveyer either of said descending conveyers as desired, an intermediate section between the elevating and descending conveyers and interchangeable guideways adapted to be mounted on said intermediate section for guiding the rows of cans to the desired trackway on the descending conveyer, whereby the device is adapted for handling cans of diderent sizes. f 5

9. Conveyer apparatus for changing groups of cans and like articles into single le, including an elevating conveyer having a plurality of trackways, each for receiving a single row of cans and like articles, a plurality of descending conveyers, one above the other with trackways forreceiving cans of different sizes, means for vertically adjusting theV receiving ends of said `descending conveyers so as to make the desired one of them k register with the discharge end of the elevating conveyer, and interchangeable means readily put in place and removed for guiding the cans from the discharge endof the elevatingl end ofk the conveyer tothe receiving end of either of the receiving conveyers, whereby the conveying apparatus may be adapted for conveying cans of diiferent sizes.

10. Conveyer apparatus having a number of substantially independent parallel track- Ways for conveying each a row of cans and like articles, a smaller number of receiving trackways in substantial alinement'with said first mentioned trackways, substantially parallel intermediate tapering guideways adapted to receive the cans from said first menitioned trackways and deliver them to the reintermediate guide ways with their larger ends overlapped by said rst mentioned trackways and with their reduced ends discharging on the receiving guideways, whereby the number of rows of cans can be reduced in passing from the rst mentioned guideways to the receiving guideways.

1l. Conveyer apparatus having a number of substantially parallel elevating trackways for conveying and elevating a plurality of rows of cans, a smaller number of descending receiving` trackways following said ascending trackways, intermediate guideways between the ascending and descending trackways equaling in number the descending` traclways and with their receiving ends relatively widened and in position to receive the cans from the ascending trackways and deliver them to the receiving tracliways, and means for supporting said intermediate guideways which enables the number thereof to be readily altered to agree with the number of descending trackways.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aiiiXed my signature.

SAMUEL B. MOTT. 

